Theft signal for motor vehicles



L. R. ZEPKA.

THEFT SIGNAL FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

y APPLICATION FILED IuLYzI, 1921.

:l A@ 59 l 5 @D )Patem Aug. 89 w22.

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lhdflllliti PATENT LUDWIG B1. ZEPKA, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

'\ THEFT SIGNAL FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

Application filed. July 21,

To allee/71,017@ t may concern Be it known that l, LUDWIG Znrim, citizen of the United Sta-tes, residing at Cleveland, in the county ot Cuyahoga and State oi Gino, have invented certain new and usci'ul improvements in Theft tlignals tor lilfotor Vehicles, ot which the following is a speciieation.

rilhis invention relates 'to an improved theft signal 'tor motor vehicles and has one ot its principal object-s to provide a device ot this character tor displaying a sign indicating the absence trom vehicle oi' the authorized operator thereot.

A 'further object et the invention is to provide a signal which will be characterized by structural simplicity and which, at the saine time, will prove entirely cliicient in practical use.

And the invention has as a still 'further object to provide a signal which will be neat and attractive in appearance and which may be attached to a vehicle wind shield supplanting the usual handle upon the lower rail ot the wind shield trame.

ther and incidental objects will appear hereinafter.

ln the dra-wing:

Figure l is a fragmentary elevation looking at the rear side of a motor vehicle wind shield of conventional design, iilustrating my improved signal upon the wind shield,

Figure 2 is a front elevation ot the device,

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken medi ally through the device,

Figure-4 is a transverse section on the line 4.4 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows,

Figure 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5 5 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows,

Figure 6 is a. 'fragmentary detail elevation of the signal sign employed, and

Figure 'i is a detail section through the lock employed.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, I have,` tor convenience, shown my improved device in connection with a motor vehicle wind shield i() of conventional design. In carrying the invention into effect, l employ a base 11 which is preferably stepped to enhance the appearance thereoi3 and extending from the base at its rear edge is a handle 12. ln applying the device, the usual handle of the lower rail of the wind Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, i922.,

1921. Serial No. 486,623.

shield trame is removed and the base l2 substituted in lieu thereof, spaced bolts 13 being employed to secure the base to the rail. As will be observed, these bolts are litted through said rail from the forward side thereot, and threaded into the inner ends of said bolts are cap screws lll securing the bolts against displacement and lying within suitable recesses 1 5 in the base. Closing said recesses are appropriate ller plugs iti preventing access to the screws, as well as loch" ing the nuts upon the bolts. Thus, to all intents and purposes the device will be iermanently connected to the wind shield and, as will be seen, the handle 12 may be conveniently grasped for tilting the wind shield when desired. Mounted upon the base is a preferably metallic casing which is formed of mating sections i7 and 'i8 respectively, the former section being` somewhat deeper than the latter section. As suggested in the drawing, this casing is preferably scrolled to enhance the appearance thereof and the joint between the lapped sections is preferably brazed for not only obscuring the joint but also permanently connecting the sections. Securing the casing to the hase are spaced cap screws 19 engaged through the bottom wall ot' the section 1T.

rllhe 'tront and back walls of the casing are provided with alined sight openings 2O across which extend bars or slats 2l integral with said walls, and overlying said openings within the casing are closure panes 22 held by suitable retaining strips 23. As will be observed upon reference to Figure 3, the sight openings 20 are disposed adjacent the bottom wall ot the easing and mounted within the casing to abut the top wall thereof is an appropriate lock 24:. This lock may be of any approved character and may be operated through the back wall ot the casing by a suitable key. However, for the purposes of the present invention, the lock comprises a rotatable key operated disc 25, and :tormed in one end wall of the lock casing is a vertical slot 26 while in the side walls of the casing are slots 27. Projecting 'from the disc 25 nnear its periphery is a pin 28 extending through a suitable slot in an arm 29 which is freely received through the slot 26 in the lock casing. Extending transversely through the arm is a flat pin or bar 30 adapted to travel freely in the slots 27, and mounted upon the arm is a signal plate 3l upon each side of which is preferably imposed the word Stop. The letters oit the word, in each instance, are preferably painted with radium or luminous paint so as to be visible at night.

ing is provided upon each of the side walls` that when the word Stop is displayed at the sight windows 20, starting, occupancy or tampering with the vehicle is unauthorized. Accordingly, in practice, the driver, upon leaving the vehicle, will simply operate the lool; 24 for lowering the signal plate 31 to a position between the sight windows 2O so that the word Stop will be visible atveach of said windows'. As will be readily understood in view of the preceding description, when the disc 25 oit the lock` is turned in a clockwise 4direction the signal plate will be lowered while when said disc is turned in a counterscloclrwise direction, the disc will 'be elevated. Accordingly, upon return olf the driver to the vehicle, the lock may be operated for elevating` the signal plate, as shown in Figure 3, to inactive position.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is: l. The combination with a tiltable motor vehicle wind shield, of a signal casing mounted upon the wind shield frame andin thereof with a suitable inscription indicating Extending from onef end ol the plate at its upper edge is, as-

cluding a handle adapted to be grasped for tilting the, windshield, and signaling means within said casing operable for displaying a signal visible through the wind shield.

2. The combination with a motor vehicle wind shield having a frame provided-with openings for receiving bolts to secure a handle, or a theft signal mounted upon said frame'including a handle for manipulating the wind shield, fastening means coasting between the signal and said frame extending through said openings, and vsignaling means operable i'or displaying a signal visible through the wind shield;

3. A signal of the character described including a casing provided with a sight open-- ing, a lock casing in said first mentionedy casing provided with a slot, locking mechanism including a rotatable disc in the lock casing, an arm extending freely through said slot and having` free connection with said disc, and a signal member carried' by the arm, the disc being movable 'for shifting the signal member to a said sight opening.

4l. A signal of the character descrbed`including a casing provided with a sight openinea lock casing mounted in the lirst casing and provided with oppositely disposed position opposite slots, locking mechanism including a rotatable disc in the lock casing, an arm extending into the lock casing and having i'iree connection with said disc, a pin carried by the arm slidably engaging in said slots, and a signal member carried by said arm, the disc being rotatable for shifting the signal member to a position opposite said sight opening.

lin testimony whereof I afHX my signature.

Lnnwre n. ZEPKA. Y[L 8.] 

